Stephen Dinan

John Kennedy urges feds to bring charges against Jussie Smollett

A Republican senator said Wednesday that the federal Justice Department should look into bringing charges against actor Jussie Smollett after local prosecutors in Chicago expunged their case against him.

March 27, 2019

At AIPAC, Democrats, Republicans agree to support Israel, but are divided on how to do so

Both Republican and Democratic leaders pledged fealty to the U.S.-Israel relationship this week, but found little common ground in how to go about proving it.

March 26, 2019

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal loses big in Senate

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal withered in the heat of the Senate on Tuesday as Republicans delivered a decisive spanking to liberal activists' plan to reshape American society.

March 26, 2019

Donald Trump wins wall battle as House fails to override veto

House lawmakers failed Tuesday in their bid to overturn President Trump's first veto, effectively upholding his declaration of a border emergency and leaving him with a free hand to build more of his border wall.

March 26, 2019

Dems back Palestinians over Israelis: Poll

More Democrats back the Palestinians than back Israel when asked about their views on peace in the Middle East, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll Tuesday that underscores the deep divisions plaguing the Democratic Party.

March 26, 2019

Rep. Adam Smith denies $1 billion defense funding for border wall

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith attempted Tuesday to block the Pentagon's move to shift $1 billion in defense money to an account that could be used to build President Trump's border wall.

March 26, 2019

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Jeffries: ‘We didn’t run on impeachment’

The chairman of the House Democratic Caucus said Tuesday that he and his colleagues have moved beyond impeachment talk after the release of the special counsel's report, saying they're ready to tackle health care, equal pay and other issues.

March 26, 2019

Michael Avenatti says Nike extortion charges are bogus, prosecutors being ‘played’

Newly indicted lawyer Michael Avenatti took to Twitter Tuesday morning to blast Nike, the shoe and sports clothing company, saying that it is trying to distract from its own criminal behavior by accusing him of extortion.

March 26, 2019

Tulsi Gabbard tells Democrats to move past Mueller

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard told supporters Monday it's time to put the special counsel's probe in the rear view and "move forward," saying voters are tired of the sniping.

March 25, 2019

Democrats demand public release of Mueller report

President Trump praised special counsel Robert Mueller's work Monday and said it "wouldn't bother me at all" if his report was released to the public, as Washington grappled with the fallout of the president's exoneration from accusations he conspired with Russia to subvert the 2016 election.

March 25, 2019

Marco Rubio constitutional amendment to set Supreme Court at nine justices

Senate Republicans introduced a constitutional amendment Monday to limit the Supreme Court to a total of nine justices, looking to foreclose the push by some Democrats to pack the court to overwhelm President Trump's picks.

March 25, 2019

Michael Avenatti arrested on extortion, fraud charges

Michael Avenatti tweeted Monday that he would soon hold a press conference to release damaging information about Nike. Instead, it was federal prosecutors who held a press conference Monday afternoon to charge Mr. Avenatti with attempting to extort more than $25 million from Nike.

March 25, 2019

Duke University to pay $112.5 million settlement for faked research

Duke University agreed to a deal Monday that will require it to repay the federal government $112.5 million to settle claims it falsified scientific research at taxpayers' expense.

March 25, 2019

Lindsey Graham: McCain’s staff to blame for Steele dossier abuses

Sen. Lindsey Graham said Monday that the late Sen. John McCain's staffers "took a piece of garbage and tried to go after Trump," but he said McCain himself wasn't involved in the shady business.

March 25, 2019

Lindsey Graham to turn post-Mueller focus to Christopher Steele, anti-Trump FBI employees

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham said Monday that he'll launch his own investigation into the 2016 election, but he'll focus on anti-Trump FBI employees and Democrats' payments to fund the Steele dossier.

March 25, 2019

Mike Enzi’s 2020 budget plan attempts to tame federal deficits

The Senate Budget Committee will take up Chairman Mike Enzi's 2020 budget proposal this week, as lawmakers hunt for new ways to turn around a bleak U.S. fiscal picture that just saw the government post its worst monthly deficit ever.

March 24, 2019

Robert Mueller clears Donald Trump in Russia probe, William Barr says

Special counsel Robert Mueller found no evidence that anyone connected with President Trump or his 2016 campaign conspired with Russia to subvert the election, according to a summary of his findings released Sunday by Attorney General William P. Barr.

March 24, 2019

Border Patrol rescues double-amputee illegal immigrant from middle of Rio Grande

Border Patrol agents had to rescue a double-amputee illegal immigrant in a wheelchair from an island in the middle of the Rio Grande this week, a day after pulling a deaf and dumb man from the water.

March 22, 2019

GOP says Mueller report should end ‘collusion’ claims

Congressional Democrats demanded immediate access Friday evening to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigative report, saying lawmakers must see his raw materials and conclusions to prevent mischief.

March 22, 2019

Robert Mueller delivers report to AG Barr, ending special counsel probe

Special counsel Robert Mueller delivered his report on the 2016 campaign to Attorney General William Barr on Friday, marking the end of a nearly two-year investigation that has monopolized the start of President Trump's tenure.

March 22, 2019